The Education Program funds a wide variety of organizations and activities that advance its mission through one or more of its priority areas. Areas of support include public policy, public awareness and building quality infrastructure.

Please note: the Program does not support individual scholarships or individual early childhood education programs. (For example, we do not support home-based, center-based or school-based providers’ requests for funds to cover the costs of field trips, supplies, equipment, operations, etc.)

Application Process

The Foundation welcomes requests for funding from nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations for initiatives that support the mission of the Education Program.

The Education Program reviews requests under $50,000 on a rolling basis. Requests over $50,000 are considered by the Board of Directors in May of each year but conversations regarding board grants usually begin in the fall or winter preceding the May meeting.

If a non-profit organization believes its work is a possible fit for an Education grant after it has reviewed the Education Program’s funding guidelines, it should e-mail Aaron Smith (asmith@mccormickfoundaiton.org).

This initial contact should briefly (2 or 3 paragraphs) outline the nature and purpose of the proposed work, the requested funding and the qualifications of the organization. All requests will receive a response.